April 1945 Summary

Villa Malcovato near Roccabarbena

Since Werner, Simon Henley and Claudia came and went, Mirella has taken in hundreds of people needing a place to sleep and a meal. The Germans have ravaged the Italians' possessions and burned their property, and Villa Malcovato's population has doubled twice with displaced evacuees. Mirella gives everyone jobs, and the villa has reverted to a medieval city. If you can help, you must help. Mirella strangely turns away someone who says there is a Jewish British paratrooper who needs help. She sense something wrong, and refuses to help.

Conflicting leaflets are dropped by Germans and Allies, and rumors abound. Spies have determined who is hiding refugees, and German officers arrive to take over the Villa for a hospital. An elderly contessa, who is a guest, tells the officers this is a children's home. Il maggiore is trapped in...